Large wire crimpers

[chorky]

Searching didn't net the results I was looking for so figured having a thread specific to large wire (small ga) would benefit all.

My specific question is what people are using to crimp 4ga wire to Anderson connectors. My cheap Chinese crimpers did the trick last time but they are too damaged now to do the job again. I only need to make one connector and the stores in town don't even know what an Anderson connector is.... Pretty lame.

Anywho, curious if folks could post up some links of the crimpers they have, or source for custom crimped cable. This could be helpful to others in the future.

Sponsored

 

[Hootbro]

or source for custom crimped cable.

https://www.batterycablesusa.com/anderson-connectors

 

[Kevin_D]

I personally like to solder high-current cable connectors.

Kevin

 

[HooliganActual]

@chorky

Here’s what I use:
https://www.harborfreight.com/hydraulic-wire-crimping-tool-64044.html

The hydraulic aspect makes it pretty easy.

 

[Rusty PW]

https://www.batterycablesusa.com/anderson-connectors

This is where I get all of my battery cables and stuff.

 

[NGNERD]

I used these as my installation was tight with trial and error so didn't want to risk pre-crimped, but would go with above recommendation on battery cable USA otherwise.

https://temcoindustrial.com/dieless-indent-lug-crimping-tool-8-awg-to-0000-awg-4-0/

 

[LostWoods]

FTZ crimpers are good up to 4/0. Been using them for years and I've never had a crimp fail that wasn't my mistake.

Soldering is generally bad in connections that move... they are inflexible, tend to break over time, and flux tends to cause more issues with corrosion. There's a reason why crimping is the standard practice with modern marine and aviation.

The key is quality crimpers that compress the conductors into basically a single wire. The ones that just pinch the cable in the lug aren't great.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The key is quality crimpers that compress the conductors into basically a single wire. The ones that just pinch the cable in the lug aren't great.

They are pretty much sealed for years with a good crimp. the copper is basically cold forged.
Crimp connections will fail with time and enough environmental issues (I have pictures and proof) but will last longer than most people care.

Solder can wick back into the stranded wire making it rigid.

So I'm careful where I use each, and choose based on application, location, environment and more.

 

[Radio Guy]

Crimping large gauge wire or even small gauge wire is better than soldering provided you have the proper crimpers and they are either calibrated or in good shape. I also got tired of soldering larger wires like 6ga through 0000 and bought a hydronic crimper. This was much cheaper than a hand lever crimper and provides more crimping power with less effort and has lots of dies for most large size wires. Th is similar to the one I got.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/196337290504?epid=918388108&itmmeta=01HV2DTGDWE87VHP5W9JG8XZAZ&hash=item2db69d4d08:g:B~0AAOSw51lmFZEr&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HP+UDJNzROkLLa1h5XYcXdD7pUzdtrfinlZ976InM/V5PUEOZ1/PQTFH0WXj27ZaujFuBp/5Cjh+te8UDQZv+5x5K1+awETYPJByzBBL7lKcGDtReGjSGu5ZOihCA3M9reQwVpwMR+TFwMmWjVUDmGCXje/MrZpsX7ZL6Cgk355KC0i/Tuu60bihbl8iQxijXLNSIRKqJKutWD2LBZgMYAvq+DsYBjJu/tyfhYLvLHC4OWHsjcKI0U7gRJ22rwvNu+augFJJ4q08FEs0Zj7GSgaEwg4bV+FwM/gxrZxlmILC6XcI0vP6rOxb5+BBgs/vQ==|tkp:Bk9SR4SH6s3YYw

 

[sarguy1941]

I love my Burndy crimper but no one will buy one for a few crimps. The one shown above is what I recommend to friends when I can't help crimp stuff for them.

 

[Hootbro]

This is where I get all of my battery cables and stuff.

Same here. As infrequent I need large gauge wire stuff, I would rather spend the coin for professional custom built to order premade than invest in the tooling for it.

Half the time, they can build and ship it to me cheaper than me assembling the items needed.

 

[Rusty PW]

Same here. As infrequent I need large gauge wire stuff, I would rather spend the coin for professional custom built to order premade than invest in the tooling for it.

Half the time, they can build and ship it to me cheaper than me assembling the items needed.

When I redid the cabling on the Power Wagon winch, alternator, battery and grounding. I got everything from them.

 

[chorky]

Same here. As infrequent I need large gauge wire stuff, I would rather spend the coin for professional custom built to order premade than invest in the tooling for it.

Half the time, they can build and ship it to me cheaper than me assembling the items needed.

If it weren't for already having the wire and the other half of the Anderson crimped and wired up I would have gone this route. But it was cheaper building it with wire in my basement already.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If it weren't for already having the wire and the other half of the Anderson crimped and wired up I would have gone this route. But it was cheaper building it with wire in my basement already.

I am constantly building custom cables for various things - like the winch on my trailer, eventually the wiring from the front of my truck to operate said winch, the battery and ground cables of my cars and for others. When I want stuff, I want it, so I typically want it now.......
I get the "it's awfully expensive to spend 90 bucks for a couple of wires" but with me, I find if I have the tools, I will find uses for them moving forward.

 

[ZeeJay]

@chorky

Here’s what I use:
https://www.harborfreight.com/hydraulic-wire-crimping-tool-64044.html

The hydraulic aspect makes it pretty easy.

This or something like it. Have had one similar for about 12 years. It has done everything from 8 to 4/0 gauge cables. Built and repaired many on mining haul trucks and heavy equipment, OTR trucks lots of junk. Have done all my Jeeps with it. Came from Amazon or EBay, one of the two. I wouldn’t solder those, larger crimps usually go by a psi requirement on crimp load. Not sure what size wire your are dealing with or maybe I missed it.

Sponsored